Performance-based grant of Rs 19.6 billion allocated to 131 cities for clean air

A performance-based grant of Rs 19.6 billion has been allocated to 131 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to implement their Clean Air Action Plans. The funds, distributed from 2019-20 to 2025-26, aim to achieve a 40% reduction in PM10 levels and meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. So far, Rs 11.2 billion has already been disbursed to support these efforts.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Environment, 21 cities, including Varanasi, Dehradun, and Greater Mumbai, have achieved a 40% reduction in PM10 levels since 2017-18, while 51 cities have seen a 20% improvement. Some cities, such as Meerut, Chennai, and Pune, have shown only a 10% reduction.

In Delhi, PM10 levels have dropped by 10-20%, although the city remains one of the most polluted capitals globally. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized the importance of these funds in tackling air pollution during a review of the Clean Air Action Plans.

Yadav also highlighted the development of 3,776 hectares of green spaces under the Nagar Van Yojana across 64 cities, alongside tree-planting drives under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of broader efforts to improve air quality.